Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand and appreciate the traditions and celebrations of Chinese New Year.
Materials and Prep
- Colorful construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Markers or crayons
- Chinese New Year decorations (optional)
No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Create a Chinese New Year Dragon: Help the student cut out a dragon shape from construction paper. They can then decorate it with markers or crayons. Encourage them to be creative and make it as colorful as possible.
- Make Chinese Lanterns: Show the student how to fold a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise. Help them cut slits along the folded edge, leaving about an inch uncut at the top. Unfold the paper and glue the short edges together to form a cylinder. Attach a strip of paper as a handle. Let the student decorate the lantern with markers or crayons.
- Learn Chinese New Year Greetings: Teach the student how to say "Gong Xi Fa Cai" which means "Happy New Year" in Chinese. Practice saying it together and encourage them to use it throughout the day.
- Learn about Zodiac Animals: Introduce the student to the Chinese zodiac and explain that each year is associated with a different animal. Show pictures of the zodiac animals and talk about their characteristics. Help the student identify their own zodiac animal based on their birth year.
Talking Points
- "Chinese New Year is a special holiday celebrated by many people in China and around the world."
- "During Chinese New Year, people decorate their homes with red lanterns, dragons, and other festive decorations."
- "The dragon is an important symbol in Chinese culture and is believed to bring good luck."
- "People exchange greetings and wishes for a happy and prosperous new year."
- "The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of 12 animals. Each year is associated with one of these animals."
- "Can you say 'Gong Xi Fa Cai'? It means 'Happy New Year' in Chinese."
- "Do you know which animal represents the year you were born? Let's find out!"